Wretched Evangelism

Yesterday I was driving around and I was listening to Wretched Radio, which used to be Way of the Master Radio, and is hosted by Todd Friel, an uber-evangelical, who mixes his theology with over the top radio schtick. I have only listened to his show for a month or so, but basically he seems to think anyone whose theology doesn’t match up with his, has problems and probably can’t call themselves a Christian. So you can just imagine what kind of problems he was with groups like the Emergents/Emerging Church.

Anywho occasionally he will do a phone interview with someone and share the gospel with them. These segments are interesting and he does provide a good example of how to evangelize and share your faith with someone. But he tends to use the same method every time, and he typically deals with young college age men who could care less about spirituality. But he typically makes a good impression and leaves people with the idea that they need to repent because they are a bad person and won’t get into heaven if they don’t

Well yesterday was interesting, because Ray Comfort, formerly of the Way of the Master Radio was in to do this. At which he is really good, his whole ministry tends to be around evangelism. Yesterday they were on the campus of Texas Tech I believe and they began talking to a Philosophy Student, a philosophy student who seemed to be a good student, and knew what he was talking about. Ray started talking to the guy, using the standard schtick like Todd does about being a good or bad person. This guy doesn’t bite, then Ray starts to bring out philosophical arguments, and for every one Mr. Comfort had, this young man had a well reasoned counter point or he pointed out the logical errors in Ray’s argument. This kid knew his stuff, and Mr. Comfort was getting nowhere with him. For me it was getting a little embarrassing for these guys. You had a smart articulate young man, with a postmodern worldview, who knew what he believed, and could clearly defend it. Also the young man would not let Todd or Ray talk over him or bully him in an argument. As they began to run out of time for the segment, Ray begins to say that the young man has a conscience and his conscience knows he is wrong, and he “Wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.” Wow, that is a real message of love. You just start using the old scare tactics to try to bring someone to Christ. Gee….I wouldn’t like to be you..cuz your going to hell.

As much as I would like to see this young man saved and in a wonderful relationship with Christ, and I just couldn’t help but also feel good that he could defend his beliefs. It really made Todd Friel and Ray Comfort look a little silly. They got a firsthand showing of how old modern evangelicals are out of touch with the postmodern youth. This is where the Emergent Church and emergents are growing, in young guys like this, by preaching a message of love, not “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”